It was a rough weekend for the east coast of Australia, so the folk at Red Bull decided that when life gives you crazy, ridiculous surf, you hold a crazy, ridiculous surfing competition.
Red Bull’s Cape Fear was held on Monday to take advantage of the 15-foot waves breaking at Cape Solander near Botany Bay in Sydney.
More than their sheer size – and while not the 50-footers of the Hawaiian North Shore, anything in the double digits is pretty insane – the waves’ heaviness and thickness was exceptional, as was the fact they were breaking virtually on the cape’s jagged rocks.
And the only way to get onto them was by tow-in, with the paddle-on section of the competition cancelled.
These were serious, life or death rides. So much so, that after two heats the event was postponed.
The event leader at the time of postponement, Justen Allport (with a score of 15.25), was taken to hospital after his heat, but is said to be in a stable condition.
“I think everyone in the event would agree this is the biggest the Cape has ever been surfed,” said local surfer Blake Thornton.
“I was really nervous before the event started, then once I got out on the back on the jet ski I was pumped up and ready to go. I didn’t want to wait too long before I got my first wave because I knew the nerves would build again, and thankfully managed to get a good one early. Even though I got absolutely smashed at the end of the battle it’s going to be a surf I remember for a long time, with one great wave and one of the worst wipeouts I’ve ever had.”
The conditions will be assessed this morning to determine whether the event will continue.
Regardless, Cape Fear is closed to the general public, but can be streamed on the Red Bull website.
(All images Brett Hemmings / Red Bull Content Pool)
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